TeenerTotOkay, maybe I'm just stupid, but--how is health care contrary to the concept of American freedoms?

ToenailsBecause the American dream is starting with nothing and starting a business with an idea that will make you millions upon millions of dollars.

REAL AMERICANS (R) believe that for this to happen, one must let the market be completely free of governmental interference. You see, the government will undoubtedly fuck up whatever equilibrium the market achieved with their price-caps and health and safety regulations.

Also, they must despise any handicap against big corporations, because those people obviously earned all their money fair and square and should be allowed to keep it.

pastorofmuppetsIn some cases it's the opposite: very broadly we could say that government regulation often creates barriers to entry that protect corporations large enough to ford them while keeping newcomers out of the market.

But it's silly when this thinking is applied to industries whose nature demands regulation. For instance, I can't just start up my own telco because I'd need permission to start digging up public streets. Healthcare is similar in that you don't want to just let any old person become a doctor, or start a hospital.

In both cases there is necessary regulation establishing who can play the game. Since you're effectively handing people monopolies, you need to regulate their prices as well, so that they don't charge like one.

PonastyPastor all the stars in the universe for putting the finest of points on the entire argument. Nail on the head

SteamPoweredKleenexIt's amazing how these people completely ignore that we spend more on health care than other industrialized nation yet have a lower life expectancy and more bankruptcy due to medical bills.

Also, I please mark your fear-instead-of-rational-argument BINGO cards, as we just heard "tax increase" and "terrorism."

MerzbauNot to mention, you know, the word "fear" about eleventy jillion times.